He doth decline your cartel.

Pol.

What didst thou say?

What answer was it you brought me, good Baldazzar?
With what excessive fragrance the zephyr comes
Laden from yonder bowers!-a fairer day,
Or one more worthy Italy, methinks

No mortal eyes have seen.— What said the count?
Bal. That he, Castiglione, not being aware

Of any feud existing, or any cause

Of quarrel, between your lordship and himself,
Cannot accept the challenge.

Pol.

All this is very true.

It is most true

When saw you, sir,—

When saw you now, Baldazzar, in the frigid
Ungenial Britain, which we left so lately,

A heaven so calm as this-so utterly free
From the evil taint of clouds ?-And he did say?—

Bal. No more, my lord, than I have told you, sir: The Count Castiglione will not fight,

Having no cause for quarrel.

Pol.
All very true.

Now this is true

Thou art my friend, Baldazzar,
And I have not forgotten it: thou 'lt do me
A piece of service. Wilt thou go back and say
Unto this man, that I, the Earl of Leicester,
Hold him a villain ?—thus much, I prithee, say
Unto the count: it is exceeding just
He should have cause for quarrel.

Bal.

My lord!—my friend!—

Pol. (aside) 'Tis he!--he comes himself! (Aloud)

Thou reasonest well.

I know what thou wouldst say-not send the message. Well, I will think of it.—I will not send it.

Now, prithee, leave me: hither doth come a person With whom affairs of a most private nature

Cas. The Earl of Leicester here!

Pol. I am the Earl of Leicester, and thou seestDost thou not?-that I am here.

Cas.

My lord, some strange,

Some singular mistake-misunderstanding

Hath, without doubt, arisen: thou hast been urged

Thereby, in heat of anger, to address

Some words most unaccountable, in writing,

To me, Castiglione; the bearer being

Baldazzar, Duke of Surrey. I am aware

Of nothing which might warrant thee in this thing, Having given thee no offence. Ha!-am I right? 'Twas a mistake?-undoubtedly-we all

Do err at times.

Pol.

Draw, villain, and prate no more!

Cas. Ha-draw?-and villain? Have at thee,

then, at once,

Proud earl!

[Draws.

Pol. (drawing) Thus to the expiatory tomb, Untimely sepulchre, I do devote thee,

In the name of Lalage!

Cas. (letting fall his sword, and recoiling to the extremity of the stage) Of Lalage!

Hold off thy sacred hand!—Avaunt, I say!

Avaunt! I will not fight thee—indeed, I dare not.
Pol. Thou wilt not fight with me-didst say, Sir

Count?

Shall I be baffled thus?-now this is well.

Didst say thou darest not? ha!

Cas.

I dare not-dare not:

Hold off thy hand. With that beloved name
So fresh upon thy lips, I will not fight thee:
I cannot-dare not.

Pol.

Now, by my halidom,
I do believe thee;-coward, I do believe thee.
Cas. Ha!-coward!-this may not be.

[Clutches his sword and staggers toward Politian;
but his purpose is changed before reaching him,
and he falls upon his knee at the feet of the earl.
Alas! my lord,

It is it is most true. In such a cause
I am the veriest coward. O, pity me!

Pol. (greatly softened) Alas! I do; indeed I pity

thee.

Cas. And Lalage

Pol.

Scoundrel, arise, and die!

Cas. It needeth not be: thus-thus-O, let me

die

Thus on my bended knee. It were most fitting
That in this deep humiliation I perish.

For in the fight I will not raise a hand

Against thee, Earl of Leicester. Strike thou home.

[Baring his bosom.

Here is no let or hindrance to thy weapon;

Strike home. I will not fight thee.

Pol. Now, 'sdeath and hell!

Am I not am I not sorely, grievously tempted

To take thee at thy word?

Think not to fly me thus.

But, mark me, sir;

Do thou prepare

For public insult in the streets, before

The eyes of the citizens. I'll follow thee

Like an avenging spirit I'll follow thee,

Even unto death. Before those whom thou lovest

Before all Rome, I'll taunt thee, villain,-I'll taunt

thee

Dost hear?-with cowardice! Thou wilt not fight me? Thou liest, thou shalt!

Cas.

Now this, indeed, is just!

Most righteous and most just, avenging Heaven!

[Exit.

Oн, nothing earthly save the ray
(Thrown back from flowers) of beauty's eye,

As in those gardens where the day

Springs from the gems of Circassy;

* A star was discovered by Tycho Brahe, which appeared suddenly in the heavens; attained in a few days a brilliancy surpassing that of Jupiter; then as suddenly disappeared, and has never been seen since.